Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“No. It’s better that she pays more than anyone else. Excuse me. I think I’m going to be sick.” She rushes off to the bathroom with her hand over her mouth. Jack and I race to the bathroom behind her only to see her throw up. I reach in the cabinet for a washcloth and wet it. “I’m here. Do what you need to do. Scream, cry, whatever you need.”
She doesn’t respond at first as she goes about the motions of washing up and brushing her teeth. The second she’s done, she looks at me with a new resolve and says, “Somewhere down deep inside, I had a feeling he didn’t kill himself. He wouldn’t have done that to me because he loved me too much. My father would have loved you, Edward.”
“So you think he’d approve of me whisking you away to get married?” I offer, hoping that I can change her mood even just temporarily.
“I believe so. I suppose it’s time to pack.”
“Only if you’re sure you want to go and become Mrs. Edward Prince.” I want to make sure she’s certain. I love her with all of my heart and if she wanted to wait, I would.
“I can’t wait to be your wife,” she says, smiling and throwing her arms around me.
Chapter 12
Ella
I close my eyes and let the woman brush eyeshadow across my lids while I think about the man waiting for me right outside on the beach. We’re presently in little cabanas getting our finishing touches. Edward has truly been my prince charming, rescuing me from the depths of hell and bringing me to life.
“Excuse me, but is this where they make the magic happen?”
“No, that’s going to be in the honeymoon suite,” I say, shooting my eyes wide open and turn to see Mrs. Godley there. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
She comes to my side and hugs me. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. You look absolutely radiant. That poor boy isn’t going to know what hit him.” She turns to Dani and says, “Oh—we have a double wedding? You must be Edward’s soon-to-be stepmother.”
“Not a wicked one,” Dani adds.
“No, he had a wench of a mother for that. You are a sweetheart. I do my homework, and might I say you both look exquisite.”
“Thank you.”
“My dear girl, I have something for you.” She hands me a small box, and I open it to a beautiful necklace. “I thought it would fit.”
“You shouldn’t have. It’s perfect.”
“I did. So you enjoy it, and yes, it’s a real diamond, but it’s not thick so be careful it doesn’t fall loose from its housing. I had it quickly made by my jeweler. You deserve the best. Your father would have loved to spoil you. I’m glad Edward’s here to do that job.”
“Thank you,” I sob, wiping tears away.
“Hey, now. Don’t go and ruin your makeup.”
“Sorry.” Dani hands me a tissue, and there’s a light rap on the cabana.
“Ladies, are we almost ready?”
“Hold your horses, Dr. Prince. You’re lucky to be getting both of these ladies in your life.”
“Well, I’d like to get married before the storm hits, Mrs. Godley.”
“Oh, heavens. I better go find my seat.” Since we hadn’t expected any guests there weren’t any chairs set out, but somehow I bet she’ll have one. She’s one amazing lady who I’m glad to have as my fairy godmother.
Epilogue
Ella
Four months later
We enter the courthouse to attend my stepmother’s trial. She’s been in jail since her arrest, but she pled not guilty. I’m not sure why because the evidence is overwhelmingly obvious.
Today is when they call up the hitman to the stand. It’s painful to see the bastard who murdered my father and I want to leap over the stands, but I have to listen to hear him say why. I need to know why.
The prosecutor starts off without hesitation. “Mr. Bills, you were hired by the defendant to kill her husband. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Can you point to the woman who paid you?” He points to my stepmother.
“How much did she pay you?”
“Five grand up front, and then twenty grand when the job was done.”
“Thank you. That will be all.” That’s it?
Then the bastard at the defense table fixes his suit and stands.
“Mr. Bills, please tell us how you met my client.”
“She came to the bar I went to and started flirting with me. I took the offer after she gave me a blow job in the hotel parking lot.”
“So you had a sexual relationship with the client?”
“Yes. For a couple of months.”
“And she broke it off, and that’s why you killed her husband. Now you’re framing her for it to get your revenge. Isn’t that the truth? Isn’t it?”
“Objection. Badgering the witness.”
“I’ll allow it.”
“It’s not the fucking truth. She and I stopped fucking before the killing so we could cut ties and it wouldn’t link back to us. At the time, I’d bang anything with a pussy. As it were, I did the job because she said her husband wanted a divorce and would have gotten it easily because he learned that she’d been physically abusing his daughter. She couldn’t end up poor, so she wanted to off him before he could leave. Then she forged the will.”